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Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

Posts

Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#1

Ellis Walentine

Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

Ellis Walentine

The New York Times today published an interesting photo essay on the making of a guitar at the Martin Guitar factory in Nazareth, PA. Manufacturing has come a long way since my first visit to the old factory back in the early 60s. In those days, guitarmaking was still largely a skilled, hands-on process. Necks were shaped with spokeshaves and rasps, neck dovetails were pared to fit. The workmanship of risk ruled much of the process.

Today, hand labor has largely been reduced to material handling and inspection. There's not a lot of room for error to creep in. This sort of industrial lutherie produces superior, predictable results, but the woodworking magic isn't the same.

Ellis


How To Make A Guitar

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#2

A.J. Hamler

Re: Workmanship of Certainty

A.J. Hamler

The real magic is dependent on the guitarist.

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#3

Re: Workmanship of Certainty

Ed Wozniak

I like the big buffing wheel.

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#4

Re: Workmanship of Certainty

Ed Wozniak

It's interesting that they chose to have a stationary buffing wheel and move the guitar to the buffing wheel rather than have a stationary guitar and move a much smaller buffing wheel to the guitar. There must be some magic in using a buffing wheel with such a large diameter.

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#5

Ellis Walentine

Re: Workmanship of Certainty

Ellis Walentine

Yeah, you want a wheel that spreads the buffing over a large area. A small wheel with a small radius would focus the buffing on a single spot and be much harder to control.

Ellis

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#6

Re: Custom Shop

Hank Knight

Most of the hand work at C.F. Martin is done in the custom shop. There are some amazing craftsmen there.

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#7

Re: Workmanship of Certainty

Mark

6 Part Martin Guitar Tour. A bit dated but if you’re interested in the process and the best Acoustic’s made (IMO), its worth the look !

https://youtu.be/TzD9APh4Amg

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#8

Re: Workmanship of Certainty

al morgan

I read it, and saw a lot of hands and people in the pictures, and mention of handwork in the text. The guitar still needs to be touched and perfected by the human hand. The assembly line nature of it is probably more disturbing.

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#9

Ellis Walentine

A continuum *LINK*

Ellis Walentine

Yes, the degree of certainty is what has changed. For comparison, check out how Wayne Henderson builds guitars. He shapes the neck with a pocket knife. His guitars fetch a pretty penny, and he has a ten-year waiting list.

Ellis


Wayne Henderson guitar building

Re: Workmanship of Certainty *LINK*

#10

A continuum... *LINK*

Jim Matthews

His daughter is a fully trained luthier, carrying the torch.

She uses more modern methods, to improve throughput. She has a more organized approach. Wayne's shop often looked like a strong wind had just blown through.

Wayne's guitars are thunderous. My Dad used to go sit on the porch every year when the best flat pickers would compete for Wayne's latest prize.

https://www.the-nature-of-music.com/index.php/2020/04/23/at-home-with-the-hendersons/


https://www.ejhendersonguitars.com/

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